ANDOVER Town beat visiting New Milton 3-1 to chalk up their third consecutive league victory and move off the bottom of the Wessex League Division One.

The home side were far the best team in every department in this contest.

From goalkeeper, Kieran McHardy to the lightning quick Lewis Wakeford and exquisite ball control of Waledin Ahmed each and every team member outplayed their opponents.

Even though they conceded the first goal, once they had equalised the three points always looked certain

The first half saw Andover create the most chances and within a minute Liam Callaghan fired just over.

Only minutes later, Callaghan played a ball into Josh Bertie which forced James Mayo into a save.

Wakefield and Shaquille Gwengwe, were at times, running rings around the Milton defence. This combined with the instinctive control demonstrated by Ahmed was an intoxicating site to see.

Before the first goal was scored Bertie had found himself with chances to put Andover in the lead on a number occasions.

Wakeford and Gwengwe set him up for a chance which was finally deflected back onto the stand roof and the next chance provided by Gwengwe saw Callaghan's effort go wide.

Then, against the run of play, Jake Carswell received the ball from a long cross and took his chance to put his team ahead.

McHardy got his hand to the ball and it looked like a spectacular save but it hit the post and ricocheted into the net.

After this Andover continued to control the game. Both Brendan Holmes and Owen Trapnell kept the pressure up on Milton’s defence and it was not long before Andover received their reward for the constant attacking play.

Callaghan passed the ball into Gwengwe, who placed the ball beautifully into the right hand side of the opponents net.

This first half also allowed the fans to see Dean Smith and Wakeford combine as a strong duo down the stand side of the Portway.

A cross from Smith was so accurate that Mayo needed to clear with a punch to prevent his team conceding two goals in as many minutes.

The passing accuracy from Holmes was stunning. One of his crosses to Bertie was akin to something you would expect to see on a training video.

Unfortunately on this occasion Bertie was presented with a chance to chip over Mayo’s head to score, but he chose to keep the ball low and the goalkeeper saved.

For long spells in the game McHardy must have felt quite alone. But when called upon he delivered.

About half an hour into the game a shot was awkwardly deflected and only his agility in changing direction stopped the visitors going back in front.

The second half began with a midfield battle. It was a defensive error following a goal kick which gave Bertie a clear shot at goal.

His strike was good and it cruised passed Mayo who was not close enough to make a difference.

Almost immediately after the re-start Milton retaliated and McHardy was forced to punch clear. The ball rebounded back to an open goal and it was a stunning clearance on the goal line by Smith which kept Andover in the lead.

This thwarted attempt seemed to be a turning point in the match, and even if their captain Aaron Scott hit the crossbar with a header from a corner, as the game entered its last 10 minutes Andover applied even more pressure and chances came thick and fast.

Sub Ben Emans went close as did Ahmed with a long shot.

As added time was being played Trapnell made a pass which curled in so effectively it could have been a shot and then finally Gwengwe scored his second and made the result more a reflection on the play.

Next up for Andover is a trip to new bottom side Ringwood on Saturday.